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Advice for Coaches & Volunteers

Northumberland Sport recognise that without the time and investment of coaches and volunteers throughout the County, the majority of opportunities for young people to develop through sport would not exist.

Northumberland Sport is therefore working together with our Partners to help increase the number of quality coaches and trained volunteers in Northumberland and to help coaches in particular improve through learning and education.

For further information, please click on the image to the right to download your copy of our publication developed for coaches and volunteers in sport. 

Organising Away Visits

Taking part in away fixtures or organising visits to new and or adventurous locations for sport is often an integral part of club activities or opportunities provided by sports organisations. The opportunity to travel to new locations as part of a team and semi-dependent of parents is an aspect of sport which adds to personal growth, self dependency and confidence. However these positive aspects can only be realised when visits and trips are appropriately planned and the safety of children and young people involved has been fully considered.

Northumberland Sport operates to Northumberland County Council's policy and recommend standards for off site education visits and advocates these to partner organisations through our Child Protection Policy and implementation procedures (Section 3.5 and 3.6 and Appendix H).

All visits involving the hiring of transport should:

• Make use of appropriately accredited suppliers
• Employ appropriately qualified and screened drivers
• Have appropriate and in most cases increased levels of supervision by adults e.g. where they involve self drive hires
• Be supported by volunteers who have been fully informed and briefed about their responsibilities
• Have parental consent based on detailed information about the trip/visit having been provided including pick up and drop off times and locations, supervision arrangements during the visits, details about the activity venue and the activities/sports taking pace, emergency procedures and telephone contact numbers, codes of conduct and agreed sanctions group organisers may need to implement
• Be covered by appropriate insurance including travel.

On occasions clubs and organisations may transport junior players by car. Where this is the case it is recommended that drivers other than parents/family/carers do not transport juniors in the situation where they are the sole adult.

Northumberland Sport has agreed minimum operating standards for coaches concerning the supervision of activities. These may increase based on the individual needs and specification of Sport Governing Bodies.

Further information about safety for away fixtures, group trips and travel abroad is available from The Child Protection in Sport Unit and at National Governing Body of Sport websites e.g. The FA